Hispanic Republicans are growing worried that President Donald Trump's support of a merit-based immigration system could alienate the GOP from the crucial demographic in future elections.
Exit polls showed that Trump earned 29 percent support among the Hispanic community. But a more stringent immigration system would likely keep many people out of the United States who would otherwise be allowed in.
"When you win the presidency, everybody thinks everything is all right, but I'm worried about Texas going the route of California," Texas chairman of the Federation of Hispanic Republicans Artemio Muniz told McClatchy.
Said Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles: "I don't want to say Hispanics vote exclusively on immigration... but it does hurt him with the Hispanic community."
Republican Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas introduced the immigration legislation in February but it gained national attention this week with Trump's support. It has yet to gain much traction in the Senate, however.
Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller got into a heated discussion with CNN's Jim Acosta regarding the bill during Wednesday's White House press briefing.
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